PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference women’s soccer league slate started on Thursday night with eight teams in action. SMU, Tulsa and Houston were all victorious while RV/- Memphis, the top team in the American standings, posted its nation-leading ninth shutout of the year.
Thursday, September 20
RV/- Memphis 5, Cincinnati 0
In its return to Mike Rose Soccer Complex in nearly a month, Memphis women's soccer earned a 5-0 win against Cincinnati to open conference play.
The Tigers earned their ninth win of the year as they collected three goals in the first 45 minutes to set the tone, and another impressive defensive performance helped Memphis to its nation-leading ninth shutout of the season.
In goal, sophomore Elizabeth Moberg tallied four stops en route to earning her ninth shutout of the season and 13th clean sheet of her career.
The Tigers return to the pitch Sunday to host ECU with kickoff set for 1 p.m. Cincinnati will look to rebound on Sunday at Tulsa at 2 p.m.
SMU 2, Temple 0
The Mustangs used a pair of second-half goals to top the Temple Owls, 2-0, in The American opener Thursday night from Westcott Field.
The game was delayed for over an hour and a half as a storm rolled through the Hilltop. Play finally began on a damp field around 8:35.
After a scoreless first half, the Mustangs came out in the second half looking for the tie-breaker and found it in the 59th minute. After a shot from close range by Allie Thornton was blocked outside the box, freshman Celiana Torres collected the rebound and fired one from long range. Thornton gave the Mustangs an insurance goal in the 75th as she hit a low lining kick perfectly in the corner of net.
SMU welcomes the UCONN Huskies to Westcott Field on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Temple heads to Houston on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tulsa 3, ECU 1
The Tulsa women's soccer team earned a 3-1 win over ECU on Thursday night at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.
Tulsa’s Mia Darden scored her fifth goal of the season as she picked up a forward pass from Addyson Guthrie and shot from 10 yards out to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead at the 16:17 mark. Neither team found the back of the net for the remainder of the first half as TU took the 1-0 edge into the break.
Just 11 minutes into the second frame Anna Williams picked up her fifth goal on the year as she shot from two yards out into an open net. Darden then earned a second goal on the night in the 83rd minute as she took the ball from a defender, dribbled up the left side and scored from eight yards out.
ECU got on the board with just 4:09 left in the contest as Jayda Hylton-Pelaia tallied her second goal on the year off a pass from Cashlin Copley.
Tulsa will return to action on Sunday, September 23 against Cincinnati. ECU heads to Memphis on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Houston 3, UConn 2
The University of Houston soccer team remains spotless at home and in The American with a 3-2 win over the UConn Thursday evening at the Carl Lewis Complex.
The Cougars remained true to their aggressive style of play, notching an early goal inside the 11th minute of action. Mia Brascia fired a free kick into the middle of the box that would be knocked into the back of the net by Jazmin Grant for the opening goal of the night.
With a 1-0 lead and outshooting the Huskies 13-6, Houston would head into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
UConn answered back with a goal of its own inside the 54th minute, following a free kick. Minutes later, Reid Morrison would find herself in scoring position, following a corner kick from Natalie Anderson. The ball was deflected into the middle of the box, about 10 yards out and Morrison fired a shot in for the first goal of her career.
The Cougars will continue action in The American when they meet up with Temple Sunday at 2 p.m. UConn heads to SMU on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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